Ranger Animal Companion CR?

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

gamefreak180

Sep 03, 2015 14:41:25

ok so i have a player wishing to make a ranger with an animal companion. What i was wondering is for those that have gone higher than cr 1/4 how game breaking is it if at all? I was thinking of making a creature that would end up being either cr 1/2 or cr 1.  As a side note this would be in a party of 2 with a sorcerer as the 2nd party member so i am wondering if having a cr 1/2 or 1 creature would help with their survival.

 

here is the creature i had in mind the stats and such have had the lvl3 ranger proficiency added to it already

Feywild Cerberus

Medium fey beast, chaotic neutral

 

Armor Class 14
Hit Points 20
Speed 40ft.
STR
15 (+2)
DEX
15 (+2)
CON
14 (+2)
Skills Perception +8, Stealth +7
INT
10 (+0)
WIS
13 (+1)
CHA
11 (+0)
Senses darkvision 60ft., passive Perception 18

Languages understands Sylvan but can't speak it

 

Three Headed. The Cerberus has advantage on Wisdom (Perception)
checks and on saving throws against being blinded, charmed,
deafened, frightened, stunned, or knocked unconscious.

 

ACTIONS
 

Multiattack.  makes three bite attacks .

 

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 7 (1 d6 + 4) piercing damage.

 

Teleport (Recharge 5-6). The Cerberus magically teleports, along
with any equipment it is wearing or carrying, up to 40 feet to
an unoccupied space it can see. Before or after teleporting, the
Cerberus  can make one bite attack.

#2

DMSage

Sep 03, 2015 15:02:33

In my opinion, the beast master ranger is the weakest class/archtype in the game. Feel free to buff it up a bit to bring it in line with other classes. It takes the rangers attack to attack with it, has a low AC, and doesnt scale well at all throughout the game. So dont worry about being game breaking. As long as you keep the CR within reason

#3

gamefreak180

Sep 03, 2015 15:57:14

DMSage wrote:
(Reply to #2)

FarBeyondC

DMSage wrote:
#5

CCS

Sep 03, 2015 16:31:32 		Cool. Looks like it's going to be doing the work of 2 fighters initially. Then just one later on. So I'd give it 4 more Hp & set my initial encounters to challenge 4 characters.
#6

Varden_Khol

Sep 04, 2015 1:31:16

In a party of two, I'd have no problem with beefing up the rangers companion. It'll round the party out a bit more.

#7

gamefreak180

Sep 04, 2015 11:52:16

is there anything i should add or change to the creature besides the 4hp?

#8

WorBlade

Sep 04, 2015 22:39:54

As written that is a CR 2 monster which is supposed to be able to have a decent fight against a party of level 2 characters. It is tougher than the PCs at level 2 and allows the Ranger to get 3 attacks for spending his/her one attack action at a skill to hit the ranger can only hit with an 18 STR or DEX (+4, then +2 at 2nd level). Frankly I would bring it down to one attack for now and then increase the attacks as the Ranger gets more attacks at a higher level myself.

(Reply to #8)

DMSage

WorBlade wrote: